U.S. patent number 4,678,205 [Application Number 06/740,480] was granted by the patent office on 1987-07-07 for method and apparatus for use with a safety harness.
Invention is credited to Jay S. Wold.
United States Patent |
4,678,205 |
Wold |
July 7, 1987 |
Method and apparatus for use with a safety harness
Abstract
A covering of comfortable material is provided with means so
that it can be joined to the safety harness of a vehicle and be
readily moved to a position where it will be in contact with the
user of the safety harness. The covering of comfortable material
will automatically move to a storage position when the safety
harness is removed and released.
Inventors: |
Wold; Jay S. (Gillette,
WY) |
Family
ID: |
24976694 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/740,480 |
Filed: |
June 3, 1985 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/808;
297/482 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R
22/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
22/00 (20060101); B60R 022/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;280/801,808
;297/483,482,484 ;24/49TS,49M,49CC,3L |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2436608 |
|
May 1980 |
|
FR |
|
2048651 |
|
Dec 1980 |
|
GB |
|
1581996 |
|
Dec 1980 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Love; John J.
Assistant Examiner: Ferriter; Karin L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Klaas & Law
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for enhancing the use of safety harness in a vehicle
comprising:
means for covering a portion of the safety harness with a
comfortable material;
means for joining said covering means to said safety harness so
that said covering means may be readily moved to a desired location
when said safety harness is applied by said user, will move
relative to said safety harness but remain stationary relative to
said user when said user moves and automatically move to a storage
position when said safety harness is released by said user;
said means for joining said covering means to said safety harness
comprising:
a spring means;
about one-half of said spring means being embedded in said covering
means; said covering means comprising:
two rectangularly shaped pieces of comfortable material having two
relatively long sides and two relatively short sides;
means securing said two rectangularly shaped pieces of material in
superposed relationship; means for surrounding said safety harness
with said covering means comprising:
a "Velcro" fastener;
one-half of said "Velcro" fastener secured to said covering means
adjacent to one of said relatively long sides;
the other half of said "Velcro" fastener secured to said covering
means adjacent to the other of said relatively long sides; said
spring means comprising:
a spring clip having a length greater than its width;
the lower half of said spring clip being located and secured
between said two rectangularly shaped pieces of comfortable
material with said length extending in a direction parallel to said
relatively short sides; and
the opening of said spring clip facing the centerline between said
long sides.
2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein:
said safety harness comprising a shoulder belt.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates qenerally to the use of the safety harness
in a vehicle and is particularly directed to method and apparatus
for enhancing the use of the safety harness in a vehicle, such as
an automobile, by providing a comfortable material covering the
conventional safety harness.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For many years, all types of vehicles, such as automobiles, trucks,
airplanes and other similar vehicles, have been provided with some
type of safety harness. While it is basically no problem for the
manufacturer to install the safety harness in the vehicle, there
exists a major problem in getting the operator or occupant of the
vehicle to use the safety harness. The manufacturers have varied
the safety harness in many different ways to promote the use of the
safety harness by the operator or occupants of the vehicle. These
efforts have not proven successful since statistics have shown that
a great proportion of operators or occupants of a vehicle do not
use the safety harness which has been installed in the vehicle. In
fact, some states have passed laws making it mandatory for the
operator and occupants of a vehicle to use the safety harness.
Thus, there exists a great need to enhance the use of the safety
harness in a vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a method and apparatus for enhancing the
use of the safety harness in a vehicle by covering a portion of the
safety harness which generally contacts the user with a comfortable
material. The covering of comfortable material is provided with
means so that is may be readily moved to a desired location so as
to contact the user and be automatically moved to a storage
position when the safety harness is removed and released by the
user.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the covering of
comfortable material comprises two rectangularly shaped pieces of
quilting, or other similar material, having two relatively long
sides and two relatively short sides. The two pieces of quilting
are secured together in superposed relationship, such as by
stitching. A spring clip is provided for joining the covering of
comfortable material to the safety harness and is secured by
inserting one portion of the spring clip through an opening in one
of the pieces of quilting and securing it in place. The spring clip
has a length substantially greater than its width and is positioned
with its length extending in a direction generally parallel to the
relatively short sides of the pieces of quilting. The open end of
the spring clip faces the centerline between the relatively long
sides of the pieces of quilting. The pieces of quilting are
provided with a Velcro fastener secured along some of the
relatively long sides and the other half of the Velcro fastener
secured along the other of the relatively long sides.
The covering of comfortable material is joined to the safety
harness by inserting a portion of the safety harness into the
spring clip. The covering of comfortable material is then wrapped
around a portion of safety harness and the long sides of the pieces
of quilting are secured together using the Velcro fastener. When
the user applies the safety harness, the covering of comfortable
material is moved relative to the safety harness by the user so
that it is in a position to contact the body of the user. After the
covering of comfortable material has been properly positioned,
relative movement between the safety harness and the covering of
comfortable material will not result in relative movement between
the user and the covering of comfortable material. When the safety
harness is removed and released by the user, the safety harness and
the covering of comfortable material will be moved by the retrieval
means of the safety harness until the covering of comfortable
material contacts a suitable stop. The safety harness will then
move relative to the covering of comfortable material until it
reaches its fully retrieved position. At that time, the covering of
comfortable material will also be in its stored position.
It is an object of this invention to provide method and apparatus
for enhancing the use of the safety harness in a vehicle.
It is another object of this invention to provide a covering of
comfortable material to be positioned around a portion of the
safety harness in a vehicle and be readily moved relative to the
safety harness to a position so as to contact the user.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a covering of
comfortable material to be positioned around a portion of the
safety harness in a vehicle which covering will be automatically
moved to a storage position when the safety harness is removed and
released by the user.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide a
covering of comfortable material to be positioned around a portion
of the safety harness in a vehicle so that, after the covering of
comfortable material has been positioned on the user, relative
movement between the safety harness and the covering of comfortable
material will not result in relative movement between the user and
the covering of comfortable material.
Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention
are set forth in part in the description which follows which will
be understood by those skilled in the art upon examination of the
following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The
objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and
obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations
particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the apparatus of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view passing through the clip when the
invention is in use;
FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of one use of the invention; and
FIG. 4 is another modification of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIG. 1, there is illustrated an exploded view of a preferred
embodiment of the apparatus 2 of this invention and comprises two
rectangular pieces 4 and 6 of comfortable material which are
secured together in superposed relationship by suitable means, such
as stitching (not shown). The pieces 4 and 6 of comfortable
material comprise soft quilting or other similar material. The
pieces 4 and 6 of comfortable material when secured together, have
two relatively long sides 8 and 10 and two relatively short sides
12 and 14.
One half 16 of a Velcro fastener is secured to the piece 6 of the
comfortable material along the relatively long side 8 and the other
half 18 of the Velcro fastener is secured to the piece 6 of the
comfortable material along the relatively long side 10. The Velcro
fastener functions in its conventional way.
A spring clip 20 having an upper half 22 and a lower half 24 is
provided. An opening 26 is formed in the piece 6 of comfortable
material adjacent to the other half 18 of the Velcro fastener so
that the lower half 24 of the spring clip 20 may be inserted
therethrough. Also, the opening 26 is adjacent to but spaced from
the relatively short side 12. The spring clip 20 has a length
substantially greater than its width and when in its assembled
position, its length is generally parallel to the short sides 12
and 14. The lower half 24 of the spring clip 20 is inserted through
the opening 26 so that the space between the upper half 22 of the
spring clip and piece 6 of comfortable material faces the
centerline 28 between the two relatively long sides 8 and 10.
Suitable means (not shown), such as stitching may be used to
maintain the spring clip 20 in an assembled position.
The apparatus 2 is installed by opening the two halves 16 and 18 of
the Velcro fastener. A portion of a safety harness 30 is inserted
between the upper half 22 of the spring clip 20 and the piece 6 of
comfortable material. The pieces 4 and 6 of comfortable material
are then wrapped around the safety harness 30 and the two halves 16
and 18 of the Velcro fastener are secured together.
The use of the apparatus 2 of this invention is illustrated in FIG.
3 wherein the safety harness 30 has been positioned across the body
32 and lap 34 of a person. The apparatus 2 has been moved relative
to the safety harness 30 so that it is properly positioned across
the body 32 of the person. In the position illustrated in FIG. 3,
the apparatus 2 of this invention provides a piece of comfortable
material in contact with the body 32 of the person. If desired,
another apparatus 2 of this invention could be used to provide a
piece of comfortable material in contact with the lap 34 of the
person. Another particular advantage that is gained by the use of
this invention, as illustrated in FIG. 3, is when the person is
required to move with the safety harness 30 in position across the
body 32. As the person moves, there is relative movement between
the apparatus 2 and the safety harness 30, but no relative movement
between the body 32 of the person and the apparatus 2. Thus, there
is no uncomfortable rubbing action that would occur without the use
of apparatus 2 of this invention. While an adult person is
illustrated in FIG. 3, it is understood that the invention can be
used with safety harness designed for use by any one, such as a
child.
When the safety harness is removed and released by the person, the
retrieving means (not shown) associated with the safety harness 30
will move the safety harness 30 and the apparatus 2 until the edge
12 contacts a stop 36. The safety harness 30 will continue to move
while the apparatus 2 remains stationary in a stored position until
its next use.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4 and
comprises a piece 38 of comfortable material, such as quilting,
which is provided at spaced apart intervals with halves 40 of a
Velcro fastener. The other halves 42 of the Velcro fastener are
secured to the safety harness 44 when desired by joining the halves
40 and 42 of the Velcro fastener.
One of the advantages of the apparatus of this invention is the
ability of the comfortable material to absorb moisture. This leads
to another advantage in that the apparatus is readily removable so
that it can be washed.
It is contemplated that the inventive concepts herein described may
be variously otherwise embodied and it is intended that the
appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments of
the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.
* * * * *